Racist graffiti sprayed on torched car in Seattle

A neighbor who heard an explosion around 1 a.m. looks at a car that was spray-painted with racist graffiti and then destroyed by fire. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. (Photo by Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times)

Racist graffiti was spray-painted on a car before it was destroyed by fire early this morning in the 2500 block of East Pine Street, police said.

The fire that destroyed the 1970 Cadillac Deville convertible is being investigated as a possible hate crime. There were no injuries.

The owner, who is African American, told KIRO-TV that he had no idea why the car was torched. Neighbors said they were shocked by the incident, but did not want to speak with the media.

The fire was reported just before 1 a.m., according to the Seattle Fire Department’s 911 log.

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.